BYU large receiver Mitch Mathews reacts after scoring game-winning landing in opposition to Nebraska in Lincoln, Neb., Saturday, Sept. 5, 2015. Nati Harnik, Related Press
BYU quarterback Tanner Mangum heaves game-winning cross to Mitch Mathews in opposition to Nebraska Saturday, Sept. 5, 2015. Nati Harnik, Related Press
The dramatic Hail Mary cross from Tanner Mangum and Mitch Mathews to beat Nebraska on Sept. 5, 2015, will dwell without end among the many best moments in BYU soccer historical past. It must be famous, nonetheless, that the long-lasting play rose from the ashes of a misfire between the 2 gamers simply seconds earlier than.
“I used to be laying ultimately zone when (Nick) Kurtz jumped on prime of me and he’s crying, ‘We're legends! We're legends! We did it!’” — BYU’s Mitch Mathews of his game-winning catch in opposition to Nebraska
Going through third-and-2 from the Nebraska 42, and trailing 28-27 with six seconds remaining, Mangum threw a brief cross to Mathews close to the Cornhuskers’ sideline. The 6-foot-6 senior from Beaverton, Oregon, pulled it in on the 35 however simply missed getting a foot in bounds. The clock stopped with one second to play.
“Had I made that catch we had been going to try a discipline purpose,” Mathews stated. “Evaluating a Hail Mary vs. a discipline purpose, the percentages of constructing a kick are a lot greater. We kick the sphere purpose for positive.”
Cougars kicker Trevor Samson had already hit discipline targets of 41 and 35 yards and was warming up his leg. Nonetheless, the late afternoon breeze on an in any other case good Saturday for soccer in Lincoln, Nebraska, pressured Bronco Mendenhall’s hand. The BYU coach determined to maintain Samson on the sideline and go for broke with a remaining cross.
Counting on a Hail Mary catch to win is a slim proposition, however BYU’s probabilities appeared even additional distant. Not solely had been the Cougars going through a program that hadn’t misplaced a season opener in an NCAA-best 29 years, however they had been additionally making an attempt to do it on the street and with out star quarterback Taysom Hill, who had been knocked out of the sport.
Wadsworth’s massive deal with
The truth that BYU even had an opportunity is a tribute to backup security Michael Wadsworth. With Nebraska driving on the BYU 23-yard line and going through third-and-3 with 1:39 to play, the previous Orem Tiger bolted by way of the road and dropped Cornhuskers operating again Jamal Turner for a 2-yard loss.
Nebraska missed a 41-yard discipline purpose on the subsequent play, leaving the Cougars with a valuable 48 seconds to make a miracle occur.
Forty-seven seconds later, on fourth-and-3 on the Cornhuskers 42, Mathews lined as much as Mangum’s left — 60 yards from the place he would find yourself on the purpose line to Mangum’s proper.
It was time for Large Ben.
“We practiced that play (known as Large Ben) on a regular basis in apply the place Terenn Houk and Nick Kurtz line up on the suitable and I am going from the left,” Mathews stated. “I’m imagined to both catch it or tip it up for one among them. Coach (Robert) Anae stated, ‘Effectively, we already know the play name. Let’s exit and do it.’”
Simply previous to the snap, operating again Algernon Brown patted his quarterback on the again to supply assurance that his blockers would purchase him sufficient time. With 89,959 followers holding their collective breath, Tejan Koroma hiked the ball and Mangum rolled to his proper, the place he waited for Mathews to motor down the sphere.
The catch
“This had been a irritating recreation for me. That they had plan to cease me and I used to be double-teamed so much. It was not the beginning I hoped for,” Mathews stated. “I bear in mind saying to myself, ‘Mitch, that is your likelihood to do one thing massive.’”
ABC broadcaster Sean McDonough described what occurred subsequent.
“Mangum steps into the throw — into the wind — right down to the purpose line — and, caught! Landing BYU! Mitch Mathews!”
Mathews had positioned himself between the incoming ball and Nebraska defenders Luke Gifford and Nate Gerry on the purpose line. He used his dimension to maintain them from getting in entrance of him.
“I knew I needed to catch it with my physique, which I don’t ever do. The probabilities of it being knocked out of my palms had been too nice,” he stated. “I felt my toes hit the bottom and I believed, ‘Oh my gosh! I’ve bought it!’”
In concern that he could be in need of the purpose line, Mathews used his massive body to push himself backward into the top zone and ensure the ball crossed the road. It was there that he heard the sliver of BYU followers going nuts.
“I used to be laying ultimately zone when Kurtz (Mathew’s roommate) jumped on prime of me and he’s crying, ‘We're legends! We're legends! We did it!’” Mathews stated.
Houk was additionally within the space. As an alternative of hugging Mathews, he ran to the sphere choose who was signaling “landing” and threw his arms round him.
The catch not solely gained the sport 33-28, but it surely triggered a pair of celebrations — each earlier than and after the officers evaluate to ensure Mathews had the ball ultimately zone. The dramatic seize was one among Mathews’ 152 receptions at BYU and the favourite amongst his 24 touchdowns.
“I don’t suppose a day goes by after I don’t speak in regards to the Hail Mary. Somebody at all times brings it up,” he stated. “It’s good to have a trademark second that individuals can bear in mind, however I used to be simply attempting to make a play for the group.”
Large 12
When the 2023 Cougars march into their debut season within the Large 12 this fall, they are going to embrace one other sizable group of cross catchers, together with 6-foot-4 Keanu Hill, 6-foot-4 Chase Roberts, 6-foot-3 Darius Lassiter and 6-foot-6 tight finish Isaac Rex.
“BYU has to have massive receivers yearly as a result of the groups within the Large 12 have greater defensive backs,” Mathews stated. “However our ‘massive play’ recreation must be there. We will need to have the flexibility to make massive performs down the sphere. Understanding that we’ve performed that previously can remind them that it’s doable to do it once more.”
NFL expertise
Beating Nebraska in 2015 turned quite a lot of heads across the nation, however not with the Cougars. They marched into Lincoln with a group adorned in NFL expertise, together with Hill (three complete touchdowns), Fred Warner (fumble restoration), Michael Davis (group main 5 solo tackles), Harvey Langi (sack) and Bronson Kaufusi (sack).
Mathews, who completed the sport with three receptions for 69 yards and two touchdowns, took his personal skilled photographs with the Chiefs, Browns, Vikings and Dolphins however, paradoxically, he by no means caught on. As an alternative, his days in soccer parlayed him right into a enterprise profession.
Nonetheless, in relation to the nice finishes in BYU historical past, Mathews has his palms throughout top-of-the-line — a miracle catch for the ages that got here inches from being a kick as a substitute.
BYU quarterback Tanner Mangum heaves game-winning cross to Mitch Mathews in opposition to Nebraska Saturday, Sept. 5, 2015.
Nati Harnik, Related Press
Dave McCann is a contributor to the Deseret Information and is the studio host for “BYU Sports activities Nation Recreation Day,” “The Put up Recreation Present,” “After Additional Evaluate,” and play-by-play announcer for BYUtv. He's additionally co-host of “Y’s Guys” at ysguys.com.